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Wednesday, 26 November 2014

MPS PLOT TO GET SH89,000 MONTHLY SALARY FOR LIFE AFTER LOSING ELECTIONS

Members of Parliament have hatched
yet another plot that will enable them to continue picking taxpayers’ pockets
upon leaving public service.

Fresh proposals have been tabled in
Parliament seeking to amend laws governing the legislators’ benefits to include
a clause that assures MPs a monthly stipend after they are rejected by voters.

The changes, contained in proposed
amendments to the Parliamentary Societies Bill, 2014, seek to force the Exchequer’s
hand into paying all former MPs a $1,000 (Sh89,000) monthly stipend for the
rest of their lives.

“The monthly stipend should
reinstate former MPs’ dignity by shielding them from becoming beggars,” said
Nominated MP Isaac Mwaura who also fixed the figure at a minimum of $1, 000
(Sh89,000).

“I have done a quick calculation and
found that Kenya has about 1,000 former MPs who have served since independence.
This means it will cost only Sh90 million per month to preserve the dignity of
these former legislators,” he said.

The proposals are yet another
attempt by the legislators to usurp the role of the Salaries and Remuneration
Commission, which is mandated to determine the compensation of all public
officers – including their retirement benefits.

Eldas MP Adan Keynan is the brains
behind the proposals that also seek to assure failed or retired politicians of
a medical cover financed by taxpayers.

MPs are also seeking the
establishment of a Parliamentary Societies Fund that will enable them to draw
public funds for personal investments.

The amendments also seek to cover
one-term MPs and those who lost their seats before the pension law was enacted.
If the proposals are passed they will qualify for retirement benefits financed
by the taxpayers.

The Parliamentary Pensions Scheme
Act only covers MPs who have served two consecutive terms, leaving out those
who serve a single term. MPs are currently entitled to a mortgage and a car
loan.

Mr Keynan has crafted a Bill that
seeks to create a society whose brief is to promote and maintain the status and
well-being of former MPs.

The Bill provides for the retirement
of former MPs, offer counselling, advise them on retirement, re-employment and
financial planning.

“If you were a doctor, you have lost
most of the knowledge acquired from your training. Lecturers, engineers and
financial experts who have been members of this House for several terms should
be debriefed to remain relevant in their areas of expertise,” Mr Keynan said.

He argues that most MPs are suddenly
retired by voters at the polls, leaving them no time to prepare for the next
phase of their lives.

“We need to establish a society
similar to that of lawyers, accountants and engineers, and to create data bank
of former MPs,” he said.

The envisaged society is, among others, expected to develop projects that
will ensure former MPs support one another.
“The
society, whose patron will be the former president, in this case Mwai Kibaki,
will provide access to resources and services to aid former MPs. It will offer
assistance to all MPs in need and facilitate employment of former MPs.
Mr Keynan argues that in jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, the
government is obligated by law to utilise the experience of former MPs in all
State funded organisations. Such employment is voluntary in the US.
The proposed society will be run by a board whose chairperson will be
elected from among MPs. Other members of the board will be the principal
secretary responsible for parliamentary affairs, three persons elected by
former MPs, one psychiatrist, one serving MP and a Senator, clerks of each
chamber of the House and the CEO of the society.
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, who seconded the Bill, said former MPs are
suffering because most are not employable upon leaving Parliament.
“We are all potential former MPs. We must look at our interest given that we
are going to be former MPs,” he said.
“I am particularly keen on ensuring that the medical cover segment of the
Bill is passed,” he said. Abdikadir Aden (Balambala) reckoned that caring for
those who have served in Parliament was of paramount importance.
Former MPs could be redeployed in peace building initiatives both within and
outside the country, he said, citing the example of former Speaker Francis ole
Kaparo who is now the chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration
Commission.